The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders

Booking it to theaters: What books are being adapted into films this fall

This fall lots of movie adaptations of novels are popping up, exciting and angering fans all across the nation. If you’ve ever read a book that’s been made into a movie, you know if you were happy with the adaption or if you had other ideas about how the words should have been portrayed. Look here for upcoming movie adaptations and their basic plots.

First up is The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin. Ben (Idris Elba) is a surgeon, making his way to a medical conference. Alex (Kate Winslet) is a journalist, making her way to her wedding.These complete strangers need to get to Idaho by the next day, but can’t get a plane, so they join together. On the way there, they exchange small talk. Suddenly, the plane crashes, and they are both stranded on a snowy mountain. Have you ever wondered what would happen if your entire life depended on a stranger? Ben and Alex have that question answered when they have to survive together. Directing this film, Hany Abu-Assad brings a classic book into the cinema. Releases on October 20th, 2017.

Another favorite coming to the big screen is Wonder by R.J. Palacio. This young adult book follows Auggie Pullman (Jacob Tremblay), a 5th grader with a facial deformity. After several surgeries, he is ready to go to the dangerous, self esteem-lowering jungle known as elementary school. Auggie meets several people in this new place, some of whom are nicer than others, and some of whom are rude. Auggie must figure out who he is, who he can rely on, and how he is going to survive 5th grade. In this rough new place, he turns to his parents, his awesome teacher, and his newfound friends. This movie also stars, Julia Roberts as Auggie’s mother, Owen Wilson as Auggie’s father, and Hamilton star Daveed Diggs as his teacher, Mr. Browne, fans are excited to see how this motion picture will stack up to the book they loved so much. Releases on November 17th, 2017.

Later this year we’ll be seeing Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle. The book intertwines three love stories that focus on three different teenagers who are caught in a snowstorm in the city of Gracetown during the Christmas season. Each little story is written by a different author. The Jubilee Express, by Maureen Johnson, is a story about a young girl, Jubilee, who is forced to spend Christmas with her grandparents because her parents have been arrested. Dragged onto a train, she travels to Florida to meet her grandparents. Her annoyance with the train, the people, and being forced from her home on Christmas, only increases when a snowstorm stops them in their tracks. A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle, by John Green, tells the story of several teenagers planning to go play a game at a restaurant with some other friends. On the way there, they crash into a snowbank and lose a tire. The Patron Saint of Saint Pigs, by Lauren Myracle, tells the tale of a girl Addie, heartbroken and a little lost from her breakup with her boyfriend, and in time, she loses herself, and others in her heartbroken state, and is unsure how to fix it. The entire book wraps all three stories together, and fans are excited to see how the director plans to link them together. No one has been cast yet, but Luke Snellin is directing and Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber are writing the screenplay. Releases November 22, 2017.

The last must-see book-to movie adaptation this fall is Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. On this fateful train ride aboard the Orient Express, a murder is committed. It’s up to detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) to solve the crime, along with characters such as… The Professor, The Butler, The Count, The Assistant, The Governess, The Missionary, The Widow, The Salesman, The Maid, The Doctor, and The Princess. Who died? Who killed them? And will they figure it out by the end of the train ride? If they are going to solve this, they have to do it now, before it’s too late. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the film is released November 22, 2017.

Camille Pfister is a Freshman staff writer for the Polaris Press. Writing has always been one of her passions. At the age of 8, Camille decided to start writing short stories and experiences in a journal and hasn’t stopped since.
Her favorite activities, other than writing, is spending time with her close group of friends and working on being a good ally and advocate. Camille is part of Real Talk, an after-school club about social issues, and wants to learn more about the world through her peers and their experiences, as well as be there to support them. As a part of the newspaper staff, she hopes to reach a bigger audience with her writing. Camille also hopes to expand her writing style and broaden her view in the world by staying updated on current events and reporting about important topics. Her biggest goal for the year is to grow as a writer and learn more about herself and the world.